Growing Pains: Characterization of Efflorescence on a Large-Scale Magnesium Relief by Frank Stella

A large-scale work by Frank Stella, Giufa, la luna, i ladri e le guardie (1984), exhibited crystalline growth on painted and unpainted surfaces after nearly 30 years of storage. mu-FTIR and Raman spectroscopy identified the efflorescence in addition to some of the pigments in Stella's paints. A fatty add efflorescence was found on the surface of oil paint passages, in contrast to magnesium formate found on the uncoated magnesium support as well as on and under polyurethane and alkyd paint passages. The magnesium formate is the product of interaction between etched magnesium skins and formic acid possibly emitted from both the crate used for storage and the alkyd paint used in Giufa. Consolidation techniques were attempted on alkyd paint blistered from formate efflorescence, but did not proceed. The sculpture was rehoused in a ventilated crate made from heat-treated wood and lined with Marvelseal.